Scientists' Contributions

An Assessment of Air Pollution Impacts on habitats and species made by the statutory conservation agencies in the UK

Jonathan Foot¹ & Simon Bareham²

¹Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Plas Penrhos, Ffrodd Penrhos, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2LQ, UK

²Countryside Council for Wales, Plas Penrhos, Ffrodd Penrhos, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2LQ, UK

    Despite significant reductions of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen emissions, a number of internationally protected habitats (e.g. SPA, SAC, RAMSAR) will remain in areas where air quality standards will be exceeded. The UK government and the statutory conservation agencies (e.g. Countryside Council for Wales, English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage, and Joint Nature Conservation Committee) have a duty to maintain these sites in favourable condition. The statutory conservation agencies are attempting to assess the impacts of critical load and critical level exceedance to the habitats and species at each site, but the agencies do not currently under take systematic monitoring or assessment of air pollution impacts on species or habitats. However, they are able to use existing datasets or environmental networks (e.g. CS2000, ECN, Acid Waters) to detect overall patterns of change in the wider countryside.

    Currently under the requirements of the 'Habitats regulations', we are attempting to produce a common standards model that will incorporate an assessment of air pollution impacts. The statutory conservation agencies monitoring requirement will be presented in relation to the 'Habitats directive' and the need to disseminate information to area staff.